EMPIRE WIRELESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 May 1923, Page 2

EMPIRE WIRELESS

SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES (Australian and N.Z, Cable Association.) LONDON, May 9. A special correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says: Sir W. Joynson Hicks, in carrying out the Government’s recently declared policy in favour of both the Post Office and private enterprises providing direct wireless communication with India and the Dominions, is encountering difficulties. 'Sir W. Joynson Hicks has been conferring with the Marconis’ with a view to their co-opera-tion with the Government in conducting Empire wireless, but no solution has been reached. The Company has contracts for the provision of high power stations in Britain with Canada, South Africa, and Australia. These are not variable without the Dominion’s consent. Sir W. Joynson Hicks wants to establish effective competition between the Post Office and private enterprise. A partnership with Marconi’s on the. Australian plan is ruled out. Anything like a monopoly is beyond discussion. There remdin two courses; first, a regional division; secondly, centralised control by co-operation. If would not be advantageous to try to separate the Empire from the world’s wireless; the only alternative appears to be co-operation and centralisation of all wireless. Unless practical decisions arc speedily reached, wireless instead of being a factor in the Empire unity, may became a source of irritation and misunderstanding. PACIFIC CABLE SERVICE. SYDNEY, May 10. Mr. Milward, manager of the Pacific Cable Company, says that the duplication of the cable from Canada to Fiji is held up pending tests of a new cable which is calculated to considerably increase speed and transmission of messages, and bring about a reduction in rates. If the tests arc successful, all the cable companies recognise it will bring about a revolution in cable telegraphy. Mr. Milward added that whilst he admitted wireless would play an important part in connection with strategic purposes, it was not feared commercially, in the near future. In any case, if commercial wireless developed, the cable concerns hoped by an ultimate reduction in rates to compete successfully against it. The hew type of cable now being tested is expected to increase the carrying capacity at least eight times as compared with what is possible at present.